leaders from capitol hill today, hoping to avoid the fiscal cliff, combination of spending cuts and tax hikes with will go into effect unless lawmakers can broker a deal before the end of the year. will meet with congressional white house. it may be too late for a deal. there are just four days left before the fiscal cliff deadline. jive to be very honest mr. president, -- >> i have to be very honest mr. president, i don't know time-wise how it can happen now. >> reporter: senate majority leader harry reid]vtkÑ lashed ot at speaker boehner accusing him of running a tar forship. >> john boehner seems to -- >> reporter: republican leaders blame democrats for the standoff and say there are limits to a compromise. >> republicans aren't about to write a blank cheque or anything senate democrats put forward just because we find ourselves at the edge of the cliff. that wouldn't be fair to the american people. >> reporter: president obama flew home early from his hawaii vacation yesterday. speaker boehner call the house back into town for an unusual sunday session. members of congress understa